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Greg Malinowski, Washington County commissioner, talks about development (video)

Greg Malinowski on developmentWashington County District 2 Commissioner Greg Malinowski talks about the role of government in supporting development. This month, The Oregonian will be publishing a series of short videos of Washington County Commission candidates talking about issues. The election will be May 20.

Through April, we will be publishing a series of videos of Washington County commissioner candidates talking about issues such as Gain Share, transportation and development.

This week, we have Washington County District 2 Commissioner Greg Malinowski and his opponent, university professor Bob Zahrowski. District 2, in the county’s northeast corner, includes Bethany, Cedar Hills, Cedar Mill, Raleigh Hills, Rock Creek and portions of Hillsboro and Beaverton. The election will be May 20.

Some residents say the county has been excessively friendly to developers.

In 2012, the Board of Commissioners approved a $2.3 million loan to the North Bethany County Service District to help build a road typically paid for by developers. Commissioners are now talking about similar financing for roads in Bonny Slope West, South Hillsboro and Cooper Mountain.

Last month, the board extended a 20 percent discount on the Transportation Development Tax, which was voted in by residents in 2008 as a means for new development to offset its impact on the transportation system.

The question: How do you see the role of government in supporting development?

What the candidate has to say: Malinowski said government should help development through planning and assistance.

“What I think we don’t do is we don’t chip in money and just cover some of his debt so he can make even more money,” he said.

During a Board of Commissioners work session in February, Malinowski and Commissioner Dick Schouten argued for fully phasing in a tax on new development that had a 20 percent discount. They said the economy had recovered enough and developers don’t need more tax breaks. Chairman Andy Duyck was saying that phasing in the tax would raise the cost of affordable housing.

In the end, the commissioners voted unanimously to extend the 20 percent discount on the tax. Malinowski said he supported the extension on the condition that the issue be revisited in the fall.